THE NSW Police Minister, Mike Gallacher, is being accused of improperly interfering in the Craig Thomson affair after he phoned the Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, to discuss calls for an investigation into the Labor MP soon after being contacted by the opposition Senator George Brandis.
The Herald has learnt that Mr Brandis phoned Mr Gallacher last Friday to alert him of his intention to write to Mr Scipione asking him to investigate allegations that Mr Thomson used a union credit card to pay for escort services.
Mr Gallacher has confirmed he returned Mr Brandis?s call and then telephoned Mr Scipione that evening to discuss what he had been told by Mr Brandis. The NSW opposition police spokesman, Nathan Rees, said the telephone calls by Mr Brandis and Mr Gallacher created the perception of political interference.
There was no need to tell the Police Minister what would turn up in his in-tray anyway:
In a statement, Mr Gallacher?s spokesman said the minister called Mr Scipione to tell him ??that the federal shadow attorney-general, George Brandis, had advised he intended to write directly to the NSW Commissioner of Police??.
A spokeswoman for Mr Scipione confirmed the conversation and said: ??There was no other discussion on the matter.??
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/
on abc 24 now....crean crying that abbot would not allow pairs yesteray to attend margaret olleys funeral... cause that was far more important than debate on the carbon tax, or the thomson affair...
craig emerson...having a lot to say...mainy rubbishing abbot and the opposition... he being a very close mate of thomsons, sharing a flat with him...sharing caring mates....hey
so much noise from him and albanese.....they who crow the loudest, usually have the most to hide... and the press conferences photo shoots today, is designed to take your mind off all other nasty matters....they would you prefer to not listen to the other stuff.... hide it all back in the closet....
